Libri of Aleister Crowley

The Libri of Aleister Crowley is a list of texts mostly written or adapted by Aleister Crowley. Some are attributed to other authors. The list was intended for students of Crowley's magical order, the A∴A∴.

Class A consists of books of which may be changed not so much as the style of a letter; that is, they represent the utterance of an Adept entirely beyond the criticism of even the Visible Head of the Organization;

Class B consists of books or essays which are the result of ordinary scholarship, enlightened and earnest;

Class C consists of matter which is to be regarded rather as suggestive than anything else;

Class D consists of the Official Rituals and Instructions;

Class E consists of public announcements and broadsheets.

Some publications are composite, and pertain to more than one class. O.T.O. documents are not assigned to any A∴A∴ class.[1]

Contents

Many of the books and articles are major works of Aleister Crowley. Here is a listing with liber number, Roman number, class, full title, and a short description.

Liber

No.

Class

Title

I

1

A

Liber B vel Magi — Crowley: 'This is an account of the Grade of Magus, the highest grade which it is ever possible to manifest in any way whatever upon this plane. Or so it is said by the Masters of the Temple.' Also known as The Book of the Magus.

II

2

E

The Message of The Master Therion — Crowley: 'It explains the essence of the New Law in a very simple manner.'

III

3

D

Liber III vel Jugorum — Crowley: 'An instruction for the control of speech, action, and thought.'

IV

4

ABDE

ABA. Book 4 — Crowley: 'A general account in elementary terms of magical and mystical powers. In four parts:

Mysticism

Magick (Elementary Theory)

Magick in Theory and Practice

θΕΛΗΜΑ. The Law. The Equinox of the Gods.'

V

5

D

Liber V vel Reguli — Crowley: 'Being the Ritual of the Mark of the Beast: an incantation proper to invoke the Energies of the Æon of Horus, adapted for the daily use of the Magician of whatever grade.'

VI

6

B

Liber O vel Manus et Sagittæ — Crowley: 'The instructions given in this book are too loose to find a place in the Class D publications. Instructions given for elementary study of the Qabalah, Assumption of God forms, Vibration of Divine Names, the Rituals of Pentagram and Hexagram, and their uses in protection and invocation, a method of attaining astral visions so-called, and an instruction in the practice called Rising on the Planes.'

VII

7

A

Liber Liberi vel Lapidis Lazuli, Adumbratio Kabbalæ Ægypt sub figura VII, — Crowley: 'being the Voluntary Emancipation of a certain Exempt Adept from his Adeptship. These are the Birth Words of the Master of the Temple. The nature of this book is sufficiently explained by its title. Its seven chapters are referred to the seven planets in the following order: Mars, Saturn, Jupiter, Sol, Mercury, Luna, Venus. Given in magical language an account of the Initiation of a Master of the Temple. This is the only parallel, for Beauty of Ecstasy, to "Liber LXV".' Also known as The Book of Lapis Lazuli.

Liber E vel Exercitiorum — Crowley: 'This book instructs the aspirant in the necessity of keeping a record. Suggests methods of testing physical clairvoyance. Gives instruction in āsana, prāṇāyāma and dhāraṇā, and advises the application of tests to the physical body, in order that the student may thoroughly understand his own limitations.'

X

10

A

Liber Porta Lucis — Crowley: 'This book is an account of the sending forth of the Master Therion by the A∴A∴ and an explanation of His mission.' and 'Porta Lucis, the Gate of Light, is one of the titls of Malkuth, whose number is X.'

Graduum Montis Abiegni — Crowley: 'A Syllabus of the Steps upon the Path.' being, 'An account of the task of the Aspirant from Probationer to Adept.'

XV

15

Ecclesiæ Gnosticæ Catholicae Canon Missae. The Canon of the Mass according to the Gnostic Catholic Church – Crowley: 'The central ceremony of the public and private celebration of the O.T.O., corresponding to the Mass of the Roman Catholic Church. It represents the original and true pre-Christian Christianity.'

XVI

16

B

Liber Turris vel Domus Dei — Crowley: ...called 'The Tower; or the House of God.' 'An instruction for attainment by the direct destruction of thoughts as they arise in the mind.'

XVII

17

D

Liber I.A.O. — Crowley: 'Gives three methods of attainment through a willed series of thoughts. This book has not been published. It is the active form of Liber H.H.H. vel CCCXLI. The article Energized Enthusiasm is an adumbration of this book.'

XXI

21

B

Khing Kang King . The Classic of Purity, — by Ko Yuen. Crowley: 'A new translation from the Chinese by the Master Therion.' 'This is the most exalted and yet practical of the Chinese classics.'

XXIV

24

B

De Nuptiis Secretis Deorum Cum Hominibus — Of the Secret Marriages of Gods with Men. Crowley: 'A secret instruction of the VIII°.'

XXV

25

D

The Ritual of the Star Ruby — Crowley: 'An improved form of the 'lesser' ritual of the Pentagram.'

XXVII

27

A

Liber Trigrammaton, being a book of Trigrams of the Mutations of the TAO with the YIN and YANG. — Crowley: 'An account of the cosmic process: corresponding to the Stanzas of DZYAN in another system.'

Liber Librae — Crowley: 'An elementary course of morality suitable for the average man.' The Book of Balance.

XXXI

31

A

AL (Liber Legis) The Book of the Law sub figurâ XXXI — Crowley: 'The Holograph Manuscript of Liber AL vel Legis' Also: Liber L (Liber Legis), or The Book of the Law. Facsimile pages of the actual manuscript of The Book of the Law. This book is the foundation of the New Aeon, and thus of the whole of our Work. Received April 8, 9 and 10, 1904 by Aleister Crowley and Rose Kelly.

XXXIII

33

C

An Account of A∴A∴ first written in the language of his period by the Councillor Von Eckartshausen, and now revised and rewritten in the Universal Cipher. — Crowley: 'An elementary suggestive account of the work of the Order in its relation to the average man. The preliminary paper of M∴M∴M∴ (Liber LII in the O.T.O.) may be classed with this.'

XXXVI

36

D

The Star Sapphire — Crowley: 'An improved ritual of the Hexagram'

XLI

41

C

Thien Tao, A Political Essay or the Synagogue of Satan — Crowley: 'An advanced study of Attainment by the method of equilibrium on the ethicals plane.'

XLIV

44

D

The Mass of the Phoenix — Crowley: 'An instruction in a simple and exoteric form of Eucharist.' 'A Ritual of the Law.'

Shih I Ch'ien (SHIH YI CHIEN) — Crowley: 'An account of the divine perfection illustrated by the sevenfold permutation of the Dyad.' It is presumed that no full copy survives.

LI

51

The Lost Continent — Crowley: 'An account of the continent of Atlantis: the manners and customs, magical rites and opinions of its people, together with a true account of the catastrophe, so-called, which ended in its disappearance.' and 'I sometimes feel that this lacks artistic unity. At times it is a fantastic rhapsody describing my ideals of Utopian society; but some passages are a satire on the conditions of our existing civilisation, while others convey hints of certain profound magical secrets, or anticipations of discoveries in science.'

LII

52

Manifesto of the O.T.O. — Crowley: 'An elementary suggestive account of the work of the Order. The preliminary paper of the A∴A∴ (Liber XXXIII) may be classed with this.'

LV

55

C

The Chymical Jousting of Brother Perardua with the seven Lances that he brake. — Crowley: 'An account of the Magical and Mystic Path in the language of Alchemy.'

LVIII

58

B

An Article on the Qabalah — This is an article on the Qabalah in The Temple of Solomon the King.

LIX

59

C

Across the Gulf — Crowley: 'A fantastic account of a previous incarnation. Its principal interest is that its story of the overthrowing of Isis by Osiris may help the reader to understand the meaning of the overthrowing of Osiris by Horus in the present Æon.'

LXI

61

D

Liber Causæ. The Preliminary Lection, including the History Lection. — Crowley: 'Explains the actual history of the origin of the present movement. Its statements are accurate in the ordinary sense of the word. The object of the book is to discount Mythopœia. A manuscript giving an account of the history of the A∴A∴ in recent times. This history contains no mythology; it is a statement of facts susceptible of rational proof.'

Liber Cordis Cincti Serpente — Crowley: 'An account of the relations of the Aspirant with his Holy Guardian Angel. Attainment of the Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel is the Crown of the Outer College. Similarly 'Liber VII is given to Neophytes, as the grade of Master of the Temple is the next highest resting-place, and Liber CCXX to the Zelator, since that carries him to the highest of all possible grades. Liber XXVII is given to the Practicus, as in this book is the ultimate foundation of the highest theoretical Qabalah, and Liber DCCCXIII to the Philosophus, as it is the foundation of the highest practical Qabalah. This magical treatise describes particularly the relation of the Aspirant with his Higher Self. It is, alike in conception and execution, a masterpiece of exaltation of thought, carved in Pure Beauty.' Also known as The Heart Girt with a Serpent.

LXVI

66

A

Liber Stellæ Rubeæ— Crowley: 'A secret ritual, the Heart of IAO-OAI, delivered unto V.V.V.V.V. for his use in a certain matter of Liber Legis, and written down under the figure LXVI. This book is sufficiently described by its title.' Also known as The Book of the Ruby Star.

LXVII

67

C

The Sword of Song. Called by Christians The Book of the Beast. Dedicated to Bhikkhu Ananda Metteya (Allan Bennett) — Crowley: 'A critical study of various philosophies. An account of Buddhism.'

LXX

70

D

Σταυρος Βατραχου — Crowley: 'The Ceremonies proper to the obtaining of a familiar spirit of a Mercurial nature as described in the Apocalypse of St. John the Divine from a frog or toad.' A ritual proper to the VI° of O.T.O.

LXXI

71

B

The Voice of the Silence, the Two Paths, the Seven Portals, by H. P. Blavatsky, with an elaborate commentary by Frater O.M. — Crowley: 'Frater O.M., 7° 4°, is the most learned of all the Brethren of the Order; he has given eighteen years to the critical study of this masterpiece.'

LXXIII

73

The Urn — Crowley: 'This is the sequel to The Temple of Solomon the King, and is the Diary of a Magus. This book contains a detailed account of all the experiences passed through by The Master Therion in His attainment of this grade of Initiation, the highest possible to any manifested Man.'

Liber Oz, The Book of the Goat — Crowley: 'The O.T.O. manifesto of the rights of mankind: moral, bodily, mental, sexual freedom, and the safeguard tyrannicde. The O.T.O. plan in words of one syllable.'

LXXVIII

78

B

A description of the Cards of the Tarot The Book of Thoth — Crowley: '... with their attributions; including a method of divination by their use.' and on TBOT, 'A complete treatise on the Tarot giving the correct designs of the cards with their attributions and symbolic meanings on all the planes.'

LXXXI

81

Moonchild. The Butterfly Net — Crowley: 'An account of a magical operation, particularly concerning the planet Luna, written in the form of a novel.' Also known as "The Net."

LXXXIV

84

B

Vel Chanokh — Crowley: 'A brief abstract of the Symbolic representation of the Universe derived by Dr. John Dee through the Scrying of Sir Edward Kelly.'
Part I: The Symbolic Representation of The Universe.
Part II: The Forty-Eight Calls or Keys.

XC

90

A

Liber Tzaddi vel Hamus Hermeticus sub figura XC — Crowley: 'An account of Initiation, and an indication as to those who are suitable for the same.' Also known as "The Book of the Hermetic Fish-Hook."

XCIII

93

See XXVIII (28).

XCV

95

C

The Wake World. A Tale for Babes and Sucklings. — Crowley: 'A poetical allegory of the relations of the soul and the Holy Guardian Angel.'

XCVI

96

B

Liber Gaias sub figura XCVI. A Handbook of Geomancy — Crowley: 'Gives a simple and fairly satisfactory system of Geomancy.'

Liber Aleph. The Book of Wisdom or Folly — Crowley: 'An extended and elaborate commentary on The Book of the Law, in the form of a letter from the Master Therion to his magical son. This Book contains some of the deepest secrets of initiation, with a clear solution to many cosmic and ethical problems.'

CXVI

116

B

See XCVI (96)

CXX

120

D

Liber Cadaveris. Ritual CXX, of Passing through the Tuat. — Crowley: 'A Ritual of Initiation of a Zelator.'

CXXIV

124

Of Eden and the Sacred Oak; and of the Greater and Lesser Hospitality of the O.T.O. — Crowley: 'An Epistle of Baphomet to His Excellency Sir James Thomas Windram, V.H., V.I., V.I., Initiate of the Sanctuary of the Gnosis, his Viceroy in the Union of South Africa.'

CXXXII

132

Αποθεοσις CXXXII — Crowley: 'An Epistle of Baphomet to His Excellency Sir Wilfred Talbot Smith, T.H., T.I. and T.I. Initiate of the Sanctuary of the Gnosis, on the mystery of incarnation. Part α: Birth of an Idea. Part β: Dead Reckoning, and the Fort. Part γ: The Captain's Ship's Discipline: Hints on Navigation.'

CXLVIII

148

C

The Soldier and the Hunchback — Crowley: 'An essay on the method of equilibrium on the intellectual plane.'

CL

150

E

De Lege Libellum — Crowley: 'A further explanation of The Book of the Law, with special reference to the Powers and Privileges conferred by its acceptance.'

CLVI

156

A

Liber Cheth vel Vallum Abiegni sub figura CLVI — Crowley: 'This book is a perfect account of the task of the Exempt Adept, considered under the symbols of a particular plane, not the intellectual.'

CLVII

157

The Tao Te Ching — Crowley: 'A new translation, with commentary, by the Master Therion. This is the most exalted and yet practical of the Chinese classics.'

CLXI

161

Law of Thelema, The—Thelemic epistle.

CLXV

165

B

A Master of the Temple— Frater Achad's magical diary with comments by Crowley.

CLXXV

175

D

Liber Astarte vel Liber Berylli—On uniting oneself to a Deity.

CLXXXV

185

D

Liber Collegii Sancti—Tasks and Oaths of the Grades of A∴A∴

CXCIV

194

An Intimation with Reference to the Constitution of the Order—the structure of O.T.O.

CXCVII

197

C

Sir Palamedes the saracen knight—A poetic account of the Great Work.

CC

200

D

Liber Resh vel Helios—An instruction for the adoration of the Sun four times daily.

The Gospel According to Saint Bernard Shaw—A complete study of the origins of Christianity.

CMXIII

913

B

Liber ThIShARB—Methods for attaining the magical memory

CMXXXIV

934

The Cactus—A record of experiments with the Mescal buttons.

CMLXIII

963

AB

Treasurehouse of Images, The —Collection of Litanies appropriate to the Signs of the Zodiac, by J.F.C. Fuller.

MCLI

1151

being the requirements of Minerval to III° in study and work in O.T.O. in the Order as it has manifested under the Caliph.

MCXXXIX

1139

Title Unknown — Referred to as "The Utterance of the Pythoness" in Liber DCCCLXVIII.

MCCLXIV

1264

The Greek Qabalah — Crowley: 'A complete dictionary of all sacred and important words and phrases given in the Books of the Gnosis and other important writings both in the Greek and the Coptic.' This work has not survived intact and has been partially reconstructed.